Why Wear A Poppy?

"Please buy a poppy" the lady said
And smiled at me, but I shook my head
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there
Her face was old and lined with care.

But underneath those wrinkles the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A lad came whistling down the street
Bouncing along on carefree feet.

His smile was full of joy and fun
"Hello Missis" he said "Can I have one?"
She pinned it on and he turned to say
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered "This is Remembrance Day
And the poppy here is a symbol for
Those gallant young men who went to war.

And because they did, you and I are free
That is why we all wear a poppy you see.
I once had a boy about your size
With golden hair and big blue eyes

He loved to play and jump and shout
Free as a bird he would race about
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man - as you will too

He was fine and strong with a boyish smile
But he only stayed for a little while
When war broke out he went away
I still remember his face that day

He smiled at me and said "Goodbye,
I'll be back soon Mum so please don't cry"
But the war went on and he had to stay
And all we could do was wait and pray

His letters told of the awful fight
I read them still in my dreams at night
With the tanks and trenches and cruel barbed wire
And the mines and the bullets, the bombs and the fire

Until at last the war was won
And that's why we wear a poppy son"
The young lad turned as if to go
And said "Thanks Missis, I'm glad to know"

I shrank away in a sort of shame
And if you were me you'd have done the same
For our thanks in giving is often delayed
Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid

And so when we see a poppy worn
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
When we at home in peace might live
Then wear that poppy - remember and give

This Is Cool

This Birthday Calculator tells you how many hours and how many seconds you have been alive on this earth and when you were probably conceived. Scroll down to see what the moon looked like the night you were born.

Birthday Calculator

It's Here!

My couch came yesterday morning and it's smaller than I remembered, which is a good thing because I was running out of room! I bought it because it is versatile. Check this out:







I can also remove all the cushions and it becomes a single bed. Right now, it's a little bit "hard" for sleeping. I must remember to put in a lot of couch time this winter in order to soften it up for overnight guests. :)

Anyway, here's what the living room looks like now:



And other than painting over a few spots in the wall and hanging a mirror, floating shelf and "La Bandida" (framed print by Marta Gilbert), I'm done! Let me know what you think ...

*** IMPORTANT *** New Credit Card Scam

This is happening in southern Alberta right now and moving. From The Medicine Hat City Police Dept This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.
This information is worth reading.

By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from" MasterCard".

The scam works like this:

Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460 , Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona?"

When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"

You say "yes".

The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud Investigation.
If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works:

The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers".

There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the Security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him.

After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say no, the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number.

But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back. Within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master Card directly for verification of their conversation.

The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit.

However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a Word-for-word repeat of the VISA Scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening. I dealt with a similar situation this morning, with the caller telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my account for plane tickets to Spain, and so on through the above routine. It appears that this Is a very active scam, and evidently quite successful.

Pass this on to all your family and friends!

Furniture Update

My girlfriends and gay friends have been bugging me for updates on furniture arrivals so here goes. I put the dining room table together but only managed to finish two of the chairs. That thing will be the death of me yet! Those manufacturers in Malaysia have a real racket going with this furniture that requires assembly.



The little red cabinet from IKEA looks adorable!



The stuff from Pier 1 arrived on Sunday. I absolutely LOVE the chair. It was handmade in Indonesia and is fashioned out of bamboo.



The coffee table is also bamboo but the glass top is from Mexico! I thought I was going to drop it when I was trying to place it on the table. I don't why I was worried. I can do anything now.



Here is a close up of the design on the coffee table.



I've purchased some interesting accent pieces. Here is a pillar candle and stand that I really like.



Any my friend Cindy bought me a gorgeous vase for my birthday. The pattern on it (which is difficult to see in this photo) is kind of woven, like the bamboo, so it certainly "works" in the room. I bought the flowers at Pier 1. They are very redly magnificent! *smile*



BTW, the couch is coming on Saturday morning. WOO HOO!!!

Giving Thanks

As some of you may know, we Canadians celebrated our Thanksgiving today. It is my favourite of all the Canadian holidays, followed by Canada Day. To me, it is a day to reflect and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives and all the wonderful advantages we enjoy in this great country. I am so very fortunate to have (1) my health (2) a great job (3) awesome friends (4) a supportive family and (5) a stellar credit rating. LOL

I've been home almost six months and there isn't a moment that I have regretted my decision to be here instead of there. So much has gone right in my life since I arrived in mid-April. I am certain, without any doubt, that this is where I am supposed to be right now. I am so certain, in fact, that I threw out all of my moving boxes. In the past, I would have kept a few of the good ones but I've really made a commitment to stay for a while.

I'm not sure what the future holds for me. My first priority is getting my home into shape. I am still waiting for more furniture to arrive (couch, another occasional chair and a coffee table) and I need to hang a huge mirror and some prints to really finish the place. I have a feeling I'll be moving the furniture around until I can get the right combination of comfort and colour. Here's what I've got so far...

A REALLY BLUE BEDROOM:


SOME IKEA FURNITURE:



AND MY DAD'S OLD RECORD CABINET:



More to follow! :)

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

I can't believe it's been year already. So much has happened in the past 12 months. I will write more later but right now, I'm off to IKEA to buy out the store. YIPPEE!!! Happy Birthday to me.

Edited to add that I spent over three hours at IKEA and only went $13 over budget. The stuff was delivered the next day in flat boxes -- all 15 of them. Now I just have to put the stuff together! LOL

Rose and Heidi took me out for dinner for my birthday. It was extra special to me because I haven't been around the actual day of my birthday in three years! So this year's celebration was very sentimental for me.

Home Sweet Home

After three years and seven months, I am finally back in my condo. I moved in last weekend. And this weekend. And also during the week. I've been living in the same building since I came back to Toronto, sharing with another owner, living in one room, so it was just a matter of slugging stuff between floors. But now, I am finally living in my own place, which I bought almost seven years ago for less than $120K. The exact same unit, two floors above, is currently listed for sale for $225K so I guess you could say I made a good investment!

This place seems HUGE to me! It only has 660 square feet but the floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows in the bedroom make it seem larger. And I only have a desk in there so there is a ton of empty floor space. I slept in the living room last night (not much furniture there either) and when I woke up after TEN HOURS, I realized I could easily live in one room, as long as I also had a kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. Does that make four rooms or just a studio apartment?

I'm on vacation this coming week too. I don't really feel like I need a vacation but I do need the time to find some furniture. I've bought a few things but am still waiting for delivery on most things. However, yesterday, my new occasional chair from The Bay arrived. It's actually more beautiful than I imagined it would be. What do you think?

Free Hugs

There is something about people hugging each other that always makes me feel great. It is my favourite part of going to the airport! Hug someone you know (or don't know) today. *smile*

Watch this: FREE HUGS

A Sea of Red

The debate continues. Should Canada be in Afghanistan? Our Prime Minister says yes. The Afghan President says yes. The 2,500 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan are doing their duty, whether they believe in the war or not. Many Canadians hate the idea of this war and our role in it. Rosie DiManno said it best today, in The Toronto Star:

This shouldn't be about Canadians looking inwards; it should be about Canadians looking outwards, as a citizen state of the world, with values and obligations and a richness of spirit — all the finest of qualities that our soldiers embody.

And this, yesterday:

This country has a historical romance with peacekeeping. But peacekeeping is a hollow concept without fighting meat on the bone. Facts on the ground have changed and development has been compromised as a result. But there's no way, now, to jump from here to there without continuing the often perilous work of pacifying Afghanistan's most volatile areas. Building local institutions, training police, providing development assistance — none of this good and noble work can continue in the southern provinces if NATO flees from the challenges of combat.

This country gave its word. That used to mean something to Canadians.

Forget on which side of the fence you're currently sitting. Please support the troops!

You can leave a message here.

You can buy a pin, hat, tshirt or bumper sticker here.

I Love A Parade!

On Sunday, September 17, 2006, the public is invited to join a ceremony honouring Canada’s military veterans for the sacrifices they have made, and continue to make, to protect our peace and freedom.

The ceremony will include one of the largest military parades in Toronto since the Second World War, including thousands of men and women of the Canadian Forces, cadets, veterans, bands and mounted units. The parade will begin at Fort York Armoury at 12:00 noon and proceed up Fleet Street, east on Front Street and north on University Avenue.

The march past will begin at Queen's Park at 2 p.m. and be immediately followed by the unveiling of the historic Veterans' Memorial.

For more pics, go to my Webshots Album here.

Toronto's Name

A recent comment on another blog caused me to do some research about Toronto's name.

From Wikipedia:

'Toronto' means 'place where trees stand in the water'. It is an Iroquois name referring to what is now Lake Simcoe (known as Lake Toronto at the time) to the north, where Huron Indians planted tree saplings to corral fish. The portage between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron that went this route was called the 'Toronto Portage', or 'Passage'.

Toronto has collected a number of nicknames and epithets over the past two hundred years, including Muddy York (18th-19th Century), Hogtown (Victorian), The Big Smoke (1920s), Toronto the Good (1950s), T.O. (for Toronto, Ontario) and more recently T-dot, reflecting an ebonics style of nomenclature. Some Canadians outside Toronto have referred in a derogatory manner to the city as considering itself The Centre of the Universe based on the supposed Toronto-centricity of the "national" media.

Residents often pronounce the name in a slurred manner, including Toronno, Tronno, Tronna, Taranna.

BITCHOLOGY

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a bitch.

When I stand up for those I love, they call me a bitch.

When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way, they call me a bitch.

Being a bitch means I won't compromise what's in my heart. It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.

When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a bitch.

The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish. It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.

I am outspoken, opinionated and determined I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!

So try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed.

And if that makes me a bitch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it.

Thanks to my friend, Cliff, for sending this to me.

WAR! What Is It Good For?

I got two calls from Afghanistan today. My friend "Joe" is over there as part of the Canadian NATO force fighting the Taliban. He didn't call me from the FOB (Forward Operations Base) either. He called me from the field. He sounds so exhausted! They've been "outside the wire" for a month and living under a constant state of alert. Currently they are stationed on one side of dry river bed and the Taliban are on the other. They can see each other. There are rockets firing, bombs dropping and weapons blasting, every day and night.

Of the 120 guys in his company, more than 40 have been injured. Five have been killed. My friend was about 10 feet away from the blast that killed four of his comrads. He told me he was "just lucky". He helped them into body bags and sopped up the blood for others. There's a big hole in the front of their LAV (Light Armoured Vehicle) from when it got hit and a few bullet holes too. There are six guys in his crew and between them, they go through four cases of water a day. The temps are 60C during the day and 40C at night. He hasn't had a shower for a month. This is a guy who loves 30 minute showers, twice a day.

He said a 4 year old Afghani child gave him the him the finger the other day. I told him I blamed the parents. That made him laugh! He's been lifting weights (?) to help deal with the stress but they are all jumpy. The recent deaths and injuries have devastated his company. He says he doesn't have time to grieve and that he'll do it when he comes home. He's knows he's not going to be the same when he returns to Canada but he hopes the military will get him the help he needs.

He assured me that they are not peacekeeping. I assured him that we all know we're in a war now. No one in Canada is operating under the misapprehension that they are simply peacekeeping over there any more. I also told him that the people of Canada support all the troops and that seemed to give him some solace. He wants me to write him letters. They are starting to get mail drops twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. They are also getting special dispensation to use the phone because they have been out in the field for so long. He decided to call me instead of his family or buddies back home because he knows I won't freak out when I hear weapons firing in the background. I waited until I got off the phone before I freaked out.

I told him I had a dream about him last night and he mentioned dreaming about me last week. He said that the country is quite beautiful and the stars are breathtaking at night. He's been sleeping on a ground sheet or in the back of the LAV. He never knew what he was getting into when he quit his civilian job and volunteered for this tour. He wants to shower, longs to sleep in a real bed and eat anything else but rations. He says there were some young guys in his company who became men within their first 72 hours outside the wire. He said he is more afraid of the camel spiders than he is of the Taliban. That made me laugh ...

We Support Our Troops!

Things in Afghanistan are really heating up, as are things here, politically speaking. Fortunately, public support for our troops to remain in Afghanistan is currently high. A recent poll indicates that support in Quebec has even risen 10%, which is good news considering the "VanDoos" (the 22nd Regiment out of CFB Valcartier are scheduled to deploy in February 2007). At the last day of The Ex, I stopped at the military's exhibit to check out the banners they had set up for civilians to sign, with the intention of sending these banners to the troops. I was overwhelmed with the sight of them and the messages written thereon. What are your thoughts?










"YOU HAVE THE COUNTRY'S SUPPORT -- RETURN SAFELY!!!"

Favourite Things

Show me a woman who doesn't like shoes and I'll show you ... well ... a man, I guess. But not a gay man, of course. *wink* I promised my friend Sandy some time ago that I would share my "collection" with her.














At one point in my life, I had three pairs of red boots. My first pair went into the garbage because I wore them so much they fell apart and could not be repaired. I bought these boots at an outlet centre in Waterloo for less than $30. They are made by Nine West. I loved the colour of these boots. A girlfriend was "bootsitting" this pair while I was away but I recently got them back from her.














I bought these boots shortly after I moved to Toronto in 1992. Does anyone remember that fabulous boot store on Yonge Street at Gloucester? I think I paid $475 for these boots, which back then was a small fortune but I had to have them. They are Sanchos and made in Spain. They look even better now than the day I bought them. These boots are a true reflection of my personality.














These are the boots I bought in Acapulco almost 8 years ago. I think I paid less than $500 pesos for them. I wore out the soles and just got them totally reconditioned for $40. I love these boots. They remind me of my 40th birthday. My ex-boyfriend has an identical pair only in a MUCH larger size. My friend Jo-Anne never got to wear her identical pair, thanks to Air Canada losing her luggage! :(














I can't remember where I bought these boots but it might have been downtown Toronto at Winners or someplace like that. They were less than $50. They're lightweight since they're made out of nylon. They're very, VERY sexy boots and I remember buying them to impress an old boyfriend. Dumped the guy but never held that against the boots. Story of my life ... haha!


These boots are my latest acquisition and I got them by fluke. My friend Marianna was in Toronto operating a booth at The Clothing Show where I was busy shopping for a friend's birthday gift. She actually bought these boots in Amsterdam a few years ago and they were always a little bit too tight for her. Fortunately, they fit me like a glove! Made in Italy, these Guess boots are made with the softest leather you can possibly imagine. The snow will NEVER touch these boots. Thanks Marianna!

Busy Life = Happy Goddess

WOW! I have so much going on in my life right, it's kind of nuts. But I really like it this way. I love being busy. And I plan to be even busier in the near future.

First on the list is a change in residence. I'll be moving back into my condo before the end of September and I have a lot to do before then. I probably should buy some furniture. Right now, I have a bed, a desk, four wine glasses and a box of pots. LOL Fortunately I kept all my linens so I'll be comfortably ensconced in my bed and able dry myself after a shower. I just won't be able to do anything else. OK, that's a slight exaggeration but I need to buy SO MUCH STUFF. Top of the list is an ironing board, dining room table and chairs, some dishes and cutlery. I also want to get the carpets cleaned while the place is empty.

On October 7, 2006, I will have owned this condo for SEVEN YEARS so it is a bit of an anniversary for me. I'm quite excited. It's almost new to me again since I haven't lived there in more than three and a half years. I have to arrange for internet and cable. I want a TV too (winter is coming and there are so many movies I haven't seen) so I've asked my Dad to take me shopping for electronics this weekend. Should be fun!

I've already bought a couch and a chair at The Bay. I kind of went over budget on them but I've decided that I'm old enough to buy something that I WANT as opposed to simply buying something that I can AFFORD. Besides, I was able to defer paying for a year so that will help me to budget for everything else. The couch is very contemporary and versatile. It will also double as a single bed for overnight guests. Much trendier than a sofa bed and actually less cumbersome.

Next on the list is brain development. I've always liked taking courses. Even in Mexico, I took Spanish lessons. Although, Scott and I spent more time explaining the many English uses for the word "fuck" to Lupe, our Mexican tutor ... *giggle*. I thought about more Spanish lessons here in Toronto but I found something EVEN BETTER! I discovered that I can actually get an "Editing Certificate" from my local community college. I'm so excited! I start class on Tuesday. Guess what the first compulsory course is? "Essential Grammar"!!! If I pass (like there's any doubt), I will be absolutely, positively, UNSTOPPABLE. I can't wait to begin.

The last piece of the full and happy life of a Goddess is volunteer work. I got a taste for it in Vallarta and I want to do more. So I jumped online (remember, Google is your friend!) and I typed in "Toronto + volunteer". I found the Volunteer Centre for Toronto where I was able to search for a volunteer position that suited my availability and administrative bent. I found the perfect thing! I am going to volunteer, every second Saturday afternoon at The Bata Shoe Museum. Imagine the odds of a self-proclaimed shoe-aholic finding such a position?

Life is good.

For Rosa ...

Let's Go To The Ex!

I went to The Canadian National Exhibition ("The Ex") last Sunday. I didn't go last year because I wasn't home at the end of August so I was really looking forward to continuing my annual tradition. Unfortunately, all my girlfriends have grown up and none of them really likes going to The Ex so I was reconciled to going alone. Sometimes that works out better for me because then I can go wherever I want.

I arrived around 1PM via streetcar, which takes you right into the exhibition grounds. I had already bought my reduced price pass for $7 at work so I was able to walk right in after they scanned my pass. I headed straight to the Food Building and after a quick look around, I came out the other side and walked right into one of the women from work! What a small world ... she was there with her family. After a quick hello, I headed over to The Better Living Building. Only it isn't there anymore! They're tearing it down or renovating it so I settled on the Arts & Crafts building. Lots of cool stuff in there: jewellery, decorative pillows and lamps, spices, jams, jellies, wood carvings, purses, hats, clothing, candy, etc. etc. etc. I bought some expensive jam. (Get it? JAM bought jam! LOL)

Next I headed over to the Sports and Leisure building. Other than the usual huge bikini retailer (with no change rooms to try on anything!), there were a couple of cheesy sports displays, some massage therapists and one great OBUS forme backpack sales kiosk. I almost bought a HEYS brand mini knapsack for $25. I'm always thinking in advance of my trip to Europe next spring as I've heard the pickpockets in Barcelona are quite prolific! So I need something other than a regular purse to guard my valuables. But I don't want to look like a tourist so the search is on for something chic yet versatile. After a quick browse through an area selling books (4 for $10), a made my way back to the Food Building.

The same people are there every year, selling the same grubb, almost in exactly the same spot! The only difference I noticed over two years ago was that the Tiny Tom Donuts stand was inside instead of outside. There is Greek food, Italian food, Jamaican food, German food, Chinese food, fish & chips, pizza, BBQ ribs and burgers, hot fried waffles served with ice cream and, of course, french fries. I have these so rarely that I always treat myself at The Ex with a small serving. If I bought a large, there is no doubt that I would eat them all. I absolutely love french fries over any other food, including chocolate. Shocking, isn't it?

Finally, I was ready for my favourite part of The Ex: The Direct Energy Centre. It used to be called the National Trade Centre but I simply remember it as the newest (and biggest) building on the Exhibition grounds with four or five separate salons filled people hawking their wares from all over the world. It's like a huge international marketplace with goodies from Brazil, Canada (!), China, Egypt, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, and many others I can't remember right now. I bought a set of hand towels and matching face cloths for $7, a funky necklace for $15 and a pair of earrings for $3. I also saw 50 million other things I wanted to buy but I was getting pretty tired by this point so I called it a day.

I climbed aboard a streetcar to take me home sometime after 6PM, after spending approximately FIVE HOURS walking around The Ex. My feet were sore and my back was aching. I can't wait to go back again on Labour Day Monday!!! *grin*

Commenting on My Blog

The beauty of it being MY blog, is that I get to moderate all comments.

So, in response to the weak and spiteful individual who tried to post an inflamatory comment this morning: Na na na na na!

LOL